AI May Help Grid Management Dangers
The US grid is vulnerable for several reasons. One is that parts of it are overloaded. Eventually, this will cause bottlenecks in electricity. The other is that the grid could be “hacked”. The software used to run the grid is old and poorly protected. In theory, a hacker could cause blackouts.
There are indications that grid operators are turning to AI for management. Semafor reports, “Energy firms have been willing to use AI to help secure their software, but had until recently been unwilling to even countenance using the technology in the operations of their production or delivery sites.
Energy companies have begun to consider AI as a means to fight malfunctions. On paper, this could be an attempt to take down electricity delivery. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has recently highlighted that countries, including China and Russia, may attempt to disrupt the grid. In a paper titled “Securing the U.S. Electricity Grid from Cyberattacks,” some of its experts noted that it could be infected by malware, be attacked by botnets, and be affected by physical attacks on some installations.Â
Hacker Problem
One conclusion of the study is that the federal government lacks a clear understanding of the problems, which makes protecting the grid nearly impossible. The paper also suggested that the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security begin to assess risks and address them.
AI could speed up the process of the U.S. Government Accountability Office has shown concern for. In a way, AI is protecting itself. Grid interruptions could take down some of its server farms.
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